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Hafner named AL Player of the Month

Hafner named AL Player of the Month

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By Justice B. Hill
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MLB.com |

CLEVELAND -- Travis Hafner has been on a hot streak for more than a month, and while his potent bat didn't win him a spot on the American League All-Star team this summer, he came away Tuesday with a nice consolation prize.

Hafner was named American League Player of the Month for his hot hitting in June.

"It feels pretty good, just because it's over a span of 30 days," he said of winning the monthly award. "You have to be consistent to win something like that, and consistency is the thing I take the most pride in."

Hafner was the portrait of consistency in June. He hit .345 with eight homers and 29 RBIs. In his last 22 games (five of them in July), he's been even hotter. He's batting .402 with 10 homers and 34 RBIs, raising his average to .314.

In his last 18 games, he's driven in 30 runs, including five RBIs in the first game Monday of a day-night doubleheader against the Tigers.

On June 28, Hafner drove in six runs to equal his career high, which he's done three times. He is fourth in the American League in on-base percentage (.416) and slugging (.583) and 10th in RBIs (57).

Hafner becomes the first Indians player to win the award since Jim Thome did so in July 2001.

"Being Player of the Week is a great achievement, and being Player of the Month all the more so," manager Eric Wedge said. "He's had a fantastic month, and it's nice to see him win that award."

Justice B. Hill is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.